As a philosophy undergrad, they don't teach you this!! At least, they didn't teach me - when I first arrived all I was given was a reading list, an essay question and an expectation of 1500 words in a week's time. As someone who had studied exclusively STEM prior I was clueless and terrified! It really made me start to hate philosophy. I'm nearing 2 years into my degree and I'm now trying to unlearn all the bad habits I picked up when I started and learn how to read philosophy properly. Thank you for writing this - I wish I could've had something like this at the beginning of my degree.
Thank you for this tips. Reading your newsletter has inspired me to read philosophy. I will start with Plato. I have bought Wittgensteins Tractatus and saved the corresponding Philosphize this episode
This is so important for everyone to acknowledge!!!! This subject is taught in my school(and most in my country), and all my friends HATE it. However, I genuinely think it is because they simply don’t understand it first hand. They don’t dive into the subject and due to their brilliant minds they don’t quite sit right with the fact that sometimes you are just not able to get something right away. I’ve learnt to find beauty in that moment of slight discomfort provided by the uncertainty(probably because of both the sports I practice where you learn to deal with the discomfort), but it genuinely fills my when I finally, after days or even weeks of organizing thoughts I get this final product
Oh how much I love these! AND your recommendations. I wish I had found these points back when I was fresh graduate pursuing masters without an iota of idea how to tackle my humanities materials. Everything was so new and everyone already knew how to stay ahead while I was still understanding week one material after two months(fortunately i somehow pulled through and got my masters). But with your new recommendations and guide to read philosophy like philosophy I'll be going back to reread everything under a new light <3
Philosophy is a subject that I think should be mandatory to learn in schools, simply to develop deeper critical thinking skills. I have a background in stem, and where I'm from, to pursue further education (past high school), we take three to four mandatory philosophy classes (9 credits + 3 credits in our field, usually). It has helped me be a better scientist by asking the right questions and by taking ethics and the way people function in consideration. Even having done this, the subject is daunting to me, even if I want to get back into it. I can't imaging how inaccessible it can feel if no one has taught you the very basics. I think this post makes philosophy just a bit more accessible, and I thank you for making it.
such meaningful entry points, trust they will serve and help to find paths to the next level of politcal reading: the discourses on politcal action and revolution….
Reading your article was heartwarming. You’ve given some great advice. I do think they jumping into some of those texts would be quite a shock to most readers. I’d recommend most people start with Plato’s Laches and the guiding questions: how can I live better? What would I want to be taught or learn?
Oh, and my favorite book in any genre is nicomachean ethics. Masterpiece.
I love that you’re inspiring others to read and engage with philosophy. May I suggest my Substack? Many of my students asked for an intro to philosophy they wasn’t the primary texts. So I’ve started writing one. Each chapter, a to z, is less than 1000 words long and introduces a topic or tool. It’s all free.
Thank you so much for this super helpful post. May I also suggest this book : Open Socrates: The Case for a Philosophical Life
by Agnes Callard. She makes the case for an intellectual life through inquisitive thinking and action, all based on an in-depth model of Socratic philosophy.
I’ve been wanting to expand my reading and move into more philosophy but I’ve always felt so stuck and unsure where to start. This is really great advice and I love having a list of recommended books too. I’m going to hit a few secondhand book shops this weekend and see if I can find a few.
I think it took me over a month to read Meditations. But the thing about the genre is that as slow as it may be, it stays with you for the rest of your life, carved into your soul. Philosophy is soul-speak.
Reading philosophy made me realize that we are all born philosophers. These books are hyper-intellectualized, in-depth evaluations of the ways we live and think, it’s the study of human existence. So once you get past the nitty gritty of the language, these ideas forcefully speak to you in some way. How could they not resonate so deeply when they are no more than records of the morality, reason, and reality that we are all born into?
We already live out the musings of philosophers past. Everyday is a celebration of these carefully deconstructed anecdotes, it’s just that we usually do this without recognizing them.
Even some brilliant writers, like Dostoevsky who are heavily associated with certain movements (existentialism here), yet he never identified as a philosopher. He was just a man, writing down his ideas.
I noticed you leaned more into the metaphysical. I just finished a class on pragmatics. Given that they are always being put against each other, what made you choose the metaphysical?
As a philosophy undergrad, they don't teach you this!! At least, they didn't teach me - when I first arrived all I was given was a reading list, an essay question and an expectation of 1500 words in a week's time. As someone who had studied exclusively STEM prior I was clueless and terrified! It really made me start to hate philosophy. I'm nearing 2 years into my degree and I'm now trying to unlearn all the bad habits I picked up when I started and learn how to read philosophy properly. Thank you for writing this - I wish I could've had something like this at the beginning of my degree.
That’s so disheartening to hear. I hope that this can rekindle a new love for the subject. It changed my life
Thank you for this tips. Reading your newsletter has inspired me to read philosophy. I will start with Plato. I have bought Wittgensteins Tractatus and saved the corresponding Philosphize this episode
Oh wonderful!! I’m so happy to hear that
This is so important for everyone to acknowledge!!!! This subject is taught in my school(and most in my country), and all my friends HATE it. However, I genuinely think it is because they simply don’t understand it first hand. They don’t dive into the subject and due to their brilliant minds they don’t quite sit right with the fact that sometimes you are just not able to get something right away. I’ve learnt to find beauty in that moment of slight discomfort provided by the uncertainty(probably because of both the sports I practice where you learn to deal with the discomfort), but it genuinely fills my when I finally, after days or even weeks of organizing thoughts I get this final product
Oh I have so many thoughts on this… hard agree though
Would love to hear your pov!!
Oh how much I love these! AND your recommendations. I wish I had found these points back when I was fresh graduate pursuing masters without an iota of idea how to tackle my humanities materials. Everything was so new and everyone already knew how to stay ahead while I was still understanding week one material after two months(fortunately i somehow pulled through and got my masters). But with your new recommendations and guide to read philosophy like philosophy I'll be going back to reread everything under a new light <3
Thank you! I’m so happy this helps 🤎🤎
Philosophy is a subject that I think should be mandatory to learn in schools, simply to develop deeper critical thinking skills. I have a background in stem, and where I'm from, to pursue further education (past high school), we take three to four mandatory philosophy classes (9 credits + 3 credits in our field, usually). It has helped me be a better scientist by asking the right questions and by taking ethics and the way people function in consideration. Even having done this, the subject is daunting to me, even if I want to get back into it. I can't imaging how inaccessible it can feel if no one has taught you the very basics. I think this post makes philosophy just a bit more accessible, and I thank you for making it.
I couldn’t agree more!!
loved this, caitlyn!!
Thank you🥰
such meaningful entry points, trust they will serve and help to find paths to the next level of politcal reading: the discourses on politcal action and revolution….
I’m glad it helps
thank you so much for this
🤎🤎🤎
this found me at the right time
Glad to hear it 🤎
Ha! such a simple statement and yet it speaks VOLUMES!
I haven't read it yet, but @Arbaaz khan this seems like something you might like?
Thanks! This seems great!
Professor here
Reading your article was heartwarming. You’ve given some great advice. I do think they jumping into some of those texts would be quite a shock to most readers. I’d recommend most people start with Plato’s Laches and the guiding questions: how can I live better? What would I want to be taught or learn?
Oh, and my favorite book in any genre is nicomachean ethics. Masterpiece.
I love that you’re inspiring others to read and engage with philosophy. May I suggest my Substack? Many of my students asked for an intro to philosophy they wasn’t the primary texts. So I’ve started writing one. Each chapter, a to z, is less than 1000 words long and introduces a topic or tool. It’s all free.
https://philosophychatter.substack.com
Thank you so much for this super helpful post. May I also suggest this book : Open Socrates: The Case for a Philosophical Life
by Agnes Callard. She makes the case for an intellectual life through inquisitive thinking and action, all based on an in-depth model of Socratic philosophy.
I’ve been wanting to expand my reading and move into more philosophy but I’ve always felt so stuck and unsure where to start. This is really great advice and I love having a list of recommended books too. I’m going to hit a few secondhand book shops this weekend and see if I can find a few.
ugh I love you I just started Meditations and on page 15 I get nothingggg
I think it took me over a month to read Meditations. But the thing about the genre is that as slow as it may be, it stays with you for the rest of your life, carved into your soul. Philosophy is soul-speak.
Reading philosophy made me realize that we are all born philosophers. These books are hyper-intellectualized, in-depth evaluations of the ways we live and think, it’s the study of human existence. So once you get past the nitty gritty of the language, these ideas forcefully speak to you in some way. How could they not resonate so deeply when they are no more than records of the morality, reason, and reality that we are all born into?
We already live out the musings of philosophers past. Everyday is a celebration of these carefully deconstructed anecdotes, it’s just that we usually do this without recognizing them.
Even some brilliant writers, like Dostoevsky who are heavily associated with certain movements (existentialism here), yet he never identified as a philosopher. He was just a man, writing down his ideas.
I noticed you leaned more into the metaphysical. I just finished a class on pragmatics. Given that they are always being put against each other, what made you choose the metaphysical?